Pumping device



June 9, 1953 w, HOUSTON 2,6415283 PUMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1947 30 Ih, Q

I N VE N TO R. dam/Z46 M4 Haas/0 I 0 ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention has to do with improvements in pumping apparatus and relates more particularly to a device for pumping and compressing when desired, aeriform fluid such as gas or air and adapted particularly for compressing gaseous fluids for refrigerant purposes.

Th pumping apparatus forming the subject matter of this application is of a type having a compression chamber and valve of controlled means for the ingress and egress of aeriform fluid to and from the compression chamber, said chamber having a pair of opposed walls, one stationary and the other reciprocative toward and from the stationary wall combined with means for effecting such reciprocation.

The most important object of this invention is the provision of pumping apparatus in the nature of that forming the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 600,489, filed June 20, 1945, now Patent Number 2,605,957, of which this, application is a continuation in part, but including a new formation of vital parts thereof capable of effecting a more efficient operation in presenting a device that is not likely to become inoperative or necessitate frequent repairs.

One of the most important objects of this invention is the provision of a pumping apparatus in the nature of that above set forth wherein the reciprocative wall or piston is provided with a specially formed head having a resilient disc or plate member thereon to the end that such disc-like member will bear snugly and tightly against the stationary wall to which it will conform in shape thereby excluding from the compressor chamber substantially all of the aeriform fluid.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a pumping apparatus having a piston head provided with a continuous annular under-cut groove for receiving a lateral angularly extending flange formed on the resilient disc or plate therefor; said flange extending in the said under-cut portion of the groove whereby the possibility of breaking loose is positively eliminated during normal use.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a pumping apparatus having a resilient member of the aforesaid character mounted upon a piston head and provided with a reinforcement of fabric material along with a retaining ring, all embedded within the material from which the member is made; said fabric partially enclosing the ring and extending along with said ring into the above mentioned under-cut groove of the piston head;

Other objects of this invention include the manner in which the piston head and its resilient disc member are mounted not only to pr vent displacement thereof but to define a line of bend that is distinct and not: likely to extend inwardly toward the central portion of the member; and the way in which the inlet and outlet openings of the device are modified to present a pumping apparatus that is more efficient in operation than that disclosed in my aforesaid copending application.

Many additional objects will be made clear during the course of the following specification, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan View of a pumping device made in accordance with my present invention, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary substantially central cross sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken on line III-III of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 1, showing the piston head and resilient disc thereon at the uppermost end of their paths of travel.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 4 illustrating the piston head and parts thereof at the opposite end of their paths of travel; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view showing a bottom plan view of one of the inlet valves when the same is in a closed position, parts bein broken away for clearness.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

My improved pumping apparatus is provided with what may be termed a casing comprising the following described parts.

The numeral it designates the upper end portion of the body of a pump cylinder, which forms the lower member of the casing, and upon which is disposed the intermediate member l2 upon which is mounted the upper casing member i l. The members it, it and M are circular in plan and are held clamped together by vertical bolts it which extend through aligned holes in the members 12 and I4, and have their lower threaded ends fitted in threaded holes in the upper side of the member Ill.

The lower side of the member i2 is provided with a heat conductive lining comprising preferably a metal plate of high heat conductivity, as copper, fastened in any suitable manner, as by rivets l8 to the under side of and mostly covering such under side of the member H2. The lining plate which is designated by 20, is circular and projects from the periphery of the member 12 a substantial distance, said projecting portion having circular corrugations 22 for radiating the heat to the atmosphere.

The underside of the member i2 with its lining plate 2i]"cdinprises-thestationary wall of a compreSSiQn-charn'ber, and is concavely arcuate, said chamber being designated by the numeral 2%.

Directly below the linirr plate 26 is the vertically reciprocative wall of the compression chamber 24 which comprises a circular flexible resilient and compressible disc member 23', a'peripheral portion of which is held tightly clamped between the member ii) and the lining plateZil. The disc member 26 is composed of asuitable material having flexibility, resilience and compressibility, and whichis positively resistant to cold, heat, refrigerant gases and other fluids such as-those encountered in normal commercial op eration. Certain types of synthetic rubber have beenfound satisfactory. V

l or operatively reciprocating upwardly and downwardly the disc member 28, its larger central. circular portion is thicker than its outer ciro ular.peripheral portion, which central portion is fittedin and secured to the upper side ofa circular central recessed convexly arcuate portion 28 of a circular piston head 36 vertically reciprocative inthe-upper enlarged portion of the cylinder member Ill. The peripheral portion of the piston head, outside theportion 28 has its upper side curvedto conform to the under-side of the lining plate 2i) immediately above. Such peripheral portion of the piston head 3:] is designated by 32. Fastened'flbyscrews 34 to the under side of the 'piston head-30 is the piston rod 3%.

Any suitable means, not shown, may be employed forjimparting vertical reciprocation to the piston rod 38 and the piston head 39, the length of stroke required, which'is'relatively short.

-That-portion of the disc member 26 which is between the portion secured tightly to the cen- 'tral port-ion of'thepiston head designated by 28 and the peripheral portion held clamped betw'eenthemember ifiandthe lining plate 23, is ifree"to stving" when the piston head reciprocates. =Wh-en the piston head moves upwardly on its compression stroke, its peripheral portion 32 enigagesthe'underside'of the free swinging portion *ofthe disc member 26, and at the upper end of its-stroke.pressesthejfree swinging *ortion tightly against and conforming to the lining plate 20, while-thecentralportion is tightly compressed against the lining-plate 2G.

The rubber-like "member is preferably moldedinto the shape illustrated and when so formed, a fabric reinforcing 33 is embedded thereinto. This reinforcement 38 extends en- ;tirely through the=member 2B and partially en- -oircles"awire ringdil'also molded into the memtber 26.

An annular'recess'dz is formed in the head as, circumscribing the=portion 28 thereof when head is 'cast'or otherwise manufactured and the lowermost face 'of 'the member 28 has a laterally extendingcontinuousflange 4 3 that is fitted into "the recess or groove of head 36.

It is notable that the groove 62 is slightly under-cut neardts innermost end and that the flange T44 is beveledbutwardly and formed to conform "to andcompletely fill the groove42. The-ringdllis mounted near the" periphery of outermost edge of the groove 42.

er end to the under side of thememberlZ.

flange 54 within the fabric 353, and when com pletely assembled, this ring 42 is disposed near the innermost end of annular groove l2 beneath the under-cut portion thereof. Suitable adhesive, capable of securing member 25 to the metallic head 33, not only along the portion 23 thereof but Within groove M, is preferably used.

Thus, it is seen that a positive and extremely effective mounting is providedi'or--the-member 26 that cannot possibly become damaged or loosened under normal use. Further, the point of flexing or line of bend of the member 26, as

the head reciprocates, is adjacent the innermost edge of portion or head 30 or along one To this extent, the member 26 and head 38 are far superior to that shown in my aforesaid pending application. There is no chance in the present structure for member 2%; to break away from the head 36 at portion 28 thereof or elsewhere, and the fabric reinforcement 33 prevents breakage along the aforesaid line'of'bend.

The following described means are employed forintroducing the aeriiormiluid that is'tobe pumped into the compression chamber 24 and for equally distributing it therein.

The under side of the member M is provided with a horizontal circular channel as, semicircular in cross section/which registers with a corresponding semi-circular channe1'48 in the top of the member i2 and forms therewith a circular channel, circular in cross section.

' In the member 14 is provided an intake passage 58 having its lower end communicating with the channel and having its upper-end adapted to be connected with the aeriform' 'fluid'which is to be compressed. The'circular channel'dfilfl forms a manifold having four equally spaced apart ducts 52 extending from its inne-r side through the members 14 and I2 and the lining plate 29 thus forming four intake ducts'leading to the compression chamber as.

The zone of; interconnection between ducts 52 and channels ii} and 43 is above the bottom of the channel and prevents the flow of anyliquid refrigerant, that may collect in the bottom of channel it, into ducts 52. Ann or bafiie 53 insures this trapping action and is apart of the section (2'. The fin 53 is in reality one side 01 the circular channel 58 in section ll andftherefore, any condensed refrigerant collecting therein is in'close proximity to the compression chamber and subject to heat generated during normal operation. Thus, the collected condensed refrigerant is always evaporatedand returned-tothe system as useful gas.

Normally respectively closing the lower ends of the ducts 52 are for fiat resilient platesforming intake valves respectively located in four rectangular openingsfi l through thelining-plate Each intake valve is designated-by 56-and is fastened by two screws 58, adjacent to its out- The tension or" the valve plates 56 normallyholds them against the member 12 respectively-closing the lower ends of the intake ducts-52.

The casing member i2 has-throughit acir- 'cular outlet opening =68, thelowerend ofwhich registers withan 'openingin plate 20, which in turn communicates with the compression chamber '24.

Formed in the sections-12' and I4 of -the easing 10 directly above the outlet lopening lifl in "section [2 and communicating--therewith, is a cavity 62 serving as a receiving chamber-"for compressed fluid from chamber 24 and this chamber 62 in turn communicates with an outlet opening 64 formed in member l4 through a port 66 within members [2 and M.

A flat resilient plate 68 serving as anegress valve overlies the opening 60 and lies flatly within the cavity 62 and port 66. This plate 68 is held in place by screws or the like threaded into the member I2.

For aiding in cooling the heated parts, the upper side of the casing member 14 is provided with a plurality of radial integral fins I2, Figs. 1 and 2.

In operation, when the piston head 30 and its piston rod 36 move downwardly with the central portion of the disc member 26, from the uppermost position, shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the aeriform fluid to be compressed or pumped is forced downwardly through the intake passage 50 into the manifold 46-48, from which it divides equally and passes through the ducts 52, forcing the intake valves 56 downwardly to the open positions as shown in Fig. 5.

When the piston head 30 and the central portion of the disc member 26 fastened thereto, have reached the lower end of the intake stroke, the peripheral portion of the disc member 26 will have cleared the peripheral portions 32 of the piston head, the egress valve 68 in the meantime, remaining closed.

When the piston head starts on its upward compression stroke, the intake valves 56 will close and compression of the aeriform fluid will begin in the compression chamber 26, and the egress valve 68 will open and rise from the opening 60 and the fluid will pass through the outlet opening 60, port 66 and opening 64.

As the piston head In moves upwardly, the free to swing peripheral portion of the disc member 26 will gradually seat upon the peripheral portion 32 of the piston head, so that by the end of the up stroke, it will be fully supported by the portion 32 and the disc member 26 will be held tightly compressed against the upper stationary wall of the compression chamber 24 and the intake valves 56, whereby a substantially complete elimination of the aeriform fluid will have been effected, thus affording a maximum of efficiency.

During the compressing operation, heat will be produced, a large amount of which will be absorbed by the lining plate and conducted to the outer peripheral portion 22 where it will be disseminated to the atmosphere, a certain amount of the heat also being disseminated to the atmosphere by the fins 12 and the casing members l0, l2 and [4.

Many modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pumping apparatus of the character specified, a hollow casing; a reciprocable piston in said casing having a head on one end thereof provided with a dome-shaped face; a flexible, resilient, compressible disc-like member having an outer peripheral portion clamped within said casing, said member being imperforate and having a central portion tightly fastened to, bearing flatly against, and reciprocative with a central portion of said face of the piston head, said member having a circular portion intermediate 6 its central and peripheral portions free to flex during reciprocation of said piston head, said piston head having a continuous annular groove formed in said face thereof and surrounding said central portion of said face; a continuous, annular flange integral with said member, surrounding said central portion of the member, and extending into said groove of the piston head, said flange projecting outwardly from one face of the member proximal to said face of the piston head.

2. In a pumping apparatus of the character specified, a hollow casing; a reciprocable piston in said casing having a head on one end thereof provided with a dome-shaped face; a flexible, resilient, compressible disc-like member having an outer peripheral portion clamped within said casing, said member being imperforate and hav-- ing a central portion tightly fastened to, bearing flatly against, and reciprocative with a central portion of said face of the piston head, said memher having a circular portion intermediate its central and peripheral portions free to flex during reciprocation of said piston head, said piston head having a continuous annular groove formed in said face thereof and surrounding said central portion of said face; and a continuous, annular flange integral with said member, surrounding said central portion of the member, and extending into said groove of the piston head, said flange projecting outwardly from one face of the member proximal to said face of the piston head, said groove having an undercut portion receiving said flange on the member.

3. In a pumping apparatus of the character specified, a hollow casing; a reciprocable piston in said casing having a head on one end thereof provided with a dome-shaped face; a flexible, resilient, compressible disc-like member having an outer peripheral portion clamped within said casing, said member being imperforate and having a central portion tightly fastened to, bearing flatly against, and reciprocative with a central portion of said face of the piston head, said member having a circular portion intermediate its central and peripheral portions free to flex during reciprocation of said piston head, said piston head having a continuous annular groove formed in said face thereof and surrounding said central portion of said face; a continuous, annular flange integral with said member, surrounding said central portion of the member, and extending into said groove of the piston head, said flange projecting outwardly from one face of the member proximal to said face of the piston head, said groove having an undercut portion receiving said flange on the member; and a metallic molding ring embedded within that portion of the flange disposed in said undercut portion of the groove.

4. In a pumping apparatus of the character specified, a hollow casing; a reciprocable piston in said casing having a head on one end thereof provided with a dome-shaped face; a flexible, resilient, compressible disc-like member having an outer peripheral portion clamped Within said casing, said member being imperforate and having a central portion tightly fastened to, bearing flatly against, and reciprocative with a central portion of said face of the piston head, said member having a circular portion intermediate its central and peripheral portions free to flex during reciprocation of said piston head, said piston head having a continuous annular groove formed in said face thereof and surrounding said centr'ah portion: of :saidz face a, continuous, an-

nular flange integral withvsaid:tmembenusur- 'roundingisaid central sportinn-z of thee-member,

and-extending: into said groovebf the piston head, said flange projectingoutwardly .fromv one face of the member"proximal'to'z'said facebfzthe pisto11'head;:said groovehaving anaundercut portion receiving saidffiange on they member; .a"metallic molding ring embedded i-within-nthatuportion of the flange disposedxin said.undercut:portion of. the groove; aande a: fabric-reinforcement embedded within, said: member, :said reinforcement extending- :throu'ghout *the;..area: bf esaid member. and. partially; encircling .thesring.

,GI'UNIUS W.?.:HOUSTON.

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